23 Best Dorm Cleaning Supplies for College Students (Everything You Need)
Looking for the best cleaning supplies for your new college dorm room? Look no further!
​While you’re buying your dorm essentials, one thing that may be an afterthought could be buying some cleaning supplies for your room.
Although buying these may not be as fun as something like a dorm chair or dorm flags, they are still essentials that you need to stock up on.
Dorm rooms are small, but they can get dirty FAST.
Once I started having friends over my dorm room, I quickly learned how often I needed to clean to keep my room fresh and tidy.
(Trust me, you don’t want to be known for having the stinky dorm room, you’ll be on someone’s Snapchat story fast)
So to help you, I’ve created a list of the best cleaning supplies every student needs for their dorm room. These will have your room spotless, smelling like heaven, and won’t take too much time to get clean.
Let’s get right to the best dorm cleaning supplies for college students!
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Best Dorm Room Cleaning Supplies
For Your Dorm Room
1. Swiffer Sweeper 2-in-1 Mop
A Swiffer is a definite must-have! Most dorms have hard floors that collect dust and other nasty crumbs easily, so you want to sweep often (I suggest at least 2 times a week).
The great thing about this Swiffer is that you can sweep and mop! If you want to sweep, just use a dry cloth. If you want to mop, use a wet cloth.
It’s super easy to use and your floors will always be clean and fresh!
2. Small Mesh Trash Can
I had this exact trash can in my dorm and it was perfect! It didn’t take up too much space in my room and the “small can” trash bags fit perfectly. I would say it could hold about a week’s worth of trash without being too full and spilling over. Get this trash can!
3. Hefty Small Trash Bags
These bags fit perfectly in the mesh trash I mentioned above. I love these Hefty bags because they are scented. They kept my trash can fresh even when I had smelly food I needed to take out. They also have a drawstring closure, so it’s easier to tie them up and take out the trash.
If you are sensitive to smells, you might want to go with the unscented version of these bags since the smell can be pretty powerful.
4. Clorox Disinfecting Wipes
If you have no other cleaning products, you have got to have a few packs of Clorox Disinfecting Wipes in your dorm room! These are super easy to use to wipe down any dirty areas (like your desk, nightstand, bathroom, etc.)
I prefer to use the Clorox brand over other brands because the wipes are always fresher and can wipe down more things than other cheaper brands I’ve tried. Plus I love the fresh scent they leave once I get finished cleaning!
5. Rug Doctor Spot and Stain Scrubber Multi-Purpose
If you have a rug, you’ll need a rug spot cleaner to clean up any spills (and trust me there will be spills). I use the Rug Doctor cleaner because it comes with a built-in scrubber that is safe to use on any fabric and it gets the whole stain out fast and easy.
And this bottle lasts FOREVER!
💡Here’s a Gem: I am obsessed with buying rugs from Five Below for my dorm room! They are affordable, soft, and so trendy.
6. VacLife Handheld Vacuum
My handheld vacuum was a lifesaver for my dorm room and college apartment! It was so easy to clean up little crumbs on my dorm bed or the floor.
This VacLife vacuum is handheld, cordless, and super powerful. I really like it because it’s quiet and since it’s cordless, I can vacuum those hard-to-get spots, I can’t reach with a broom. Plus its battery holds for a long time, so you don’t need to charge it up that often.
7. Instant HEPA Quiet Air Purifier
Here’s time for the real, real. Dorm air isn’t the cleanest. Depending on your dorm, the building might be old and dusty, and there are a ton of other people breathing and sharing the same air (eww right.)
The best way to combat that dusty dorm air is to have an air purifier. If you have any kind of allergies, asthma, or breathing problems, I highly suggest you get one for your dorm room! This one was one of the best things I brought because it’s small, quiet, and works really well to make your dorm air feel clean and fresh!!
8. Mr. Clean Magic Eraser
You’ll need a magic eraser to clean up any scuff marks on your walls. When you move out of the dorm, you’ll have to take down any wall art and clean up scuff marks or you’ll get charged a fine.
I suggest getting a magic eraser now and cleaning up the marks as they come. Don’t wait until your move-out day because it’ll be A LOT more work.
9. Kelamayi Broom and Dustpan Set
If you don’t want a Swiffer or a microfiber sweeper, I suggest going with a simple broom and dustpan. This dustpan set is high-quality and will last you through the entire year. It will fit easily in your room and since it’s a set, you get everything you need to have clean floors!
10. Purell Advanced Hand Sanitizer Refreshing Gel
You need to have a big bottle of hand sanitizer in your room! It’s so convenient to clean your hands when you get to your room. I highly recommend buying this big bottle so it lasts throughout the entire year and keeping it on your desk for easy access!
11. Reusable Microfiber Cleaning Cloths
These cleaning cloths are amazing for wiping down your stuff in your dorm room. I love that they are reusable and you don’t have to waste paper towels just to clean your room.
You can use these cleaning cloths for the bathroom, to wash dishes, wipe down your desk, clean up spills, or anything. A definite must-have for any college student!
12. Portable Cleaning Caddy Organizer
Keep all your cleaning supplies in one place with this organizer! This makes it super easy to pull out when you’re ready to clean and you can easily carry all your supplies from room to room.
💡Buying Tip: If you have a dorm apartment, definitely get this organizer! You’ll clean so much faster when everything is in one place.
Kitchen Cleaning Supplies
13. Mrs. Meyer’s Kitchen Essentials Set
I am a HUGE fan of the Mrs. Meyers brand of cleaning products. This brand is made from plant-derived ingredients, so you don’t have the harsh chemical smell that you usually get with other cleaning products.
If you have a kitchen in your dorm room, this is the only kitchen cleaning set you need to keep your kitchen fresh and clean! It includes hand soap, dish soap, and a multi-surface cleaner you can use on your countertop. Every time I use their dish soap, my dishes are sparkling clean and the kitchen smells so good (and I love using their soap to clean the inside of my emotional support water bottle)
Plus since this is a set, it’ll last you a long time so you don’t have to buy new products often.
14. Dawn Powerwash Spray Starter Kit
I swear by this dish spray for washing those really dirty dishes (like the ones you need to scrub super hard)! The dishes don’t even need to soak with this soap. Just spray, wipe down with a cloth or sponge, then it’s sparkling clean.
Not a necessity, but if washing dishes take you forever, I suggest you have a bottle of this powerwash spray in your room.
15. Scotch-Brite Heavy Duty Scrub Sponges
I really like to use sponges for washing dishes. These are great because they have the harder side to get off burnt-off residue on pots and pans. These Scotch-Brite sponges are more durable than some other brands.
If you have non-stick pans, skip getting these sponges. They will mess up your pans and you’ll have to buy new ones. Stick to regular reusable dishcloths (like number 11) for washing dishes.
16. Small Reusable Latex Gloves
Reusable gloves are great to protect your hands when washing dishes or just cleaning in general! I especially use mine when I have a manicure, so my polish won’t chip.
17. Bounty Quick Size Paper Towels
You gotta have paper towels! They are perfect for cleaning up little spills, using them as a napkin, or even fully cleaning your room. I’m a big fan of these Bounty paper towels because they a really thick and durable. One roll can last me weeks!
Bathroom Cleaning Supplies
18. Clorox ToiletWand Disposable Toilet Cleaning Kit
If you live in a dorm with your own bathroom, you’ll have to keep it clean. This is the best toilet cleaning product I’ve ever used and I swear by it!!
I love the toilet wand because it’s the only thing you need to keep your toilet looking and smelling fresh and clean. You just attach the disposable sponge to the wand, scrub it, then throw the sponge away. Sooo much better than those nasty toilet brushes that leave “toilet water” all over your floor, eck!
19. Lysol Power Foaming Cleaning Spray for Bathrooms
This is my favorite bathroom cleaner! It gets all the soap scum and dirt off the shower and sink and makes my bathroom smell so fresh. Literally, all you have to do is spray and wipe!
20. Windex Ammonia-Free Glass and Window Cleaner
Windex is my go-to cleaner for my mirrors and windows. It will have your glass crystal clear and sparkling!
Laundry Supplies
21. Tide, Downy, and Bounce Laundry Care Bundle Pack
Bundle packs are great for college students! In this one, you get Tide Pods, Downy Unstopables, and Bounce dryer sheets.
Tide Pods are the easiest detergent to pop in the washer in your dorm. Downy Unstopables make your clothes smell so fresh, and the dryer sheets help to soften your clothes in the dryer. 100% get this bundle and you’ll have everything you need to do your laundry!
22. Tide PODS Free and Gentle Laundry Detergent Soap Pacs
If you’re more sensitive to laundry detergents, I suggest getting these Free and Gentle Tide Pods!
23. Tide To Go Instant Stain Remover for Clothes
My Tide Stick goes with me everywhere! It instantly removes any stain in minutes. As a busy, on-the-go college student, you need one of these in your bookbag just in case!
